Musings From A Musical Mind

Posts tagged ‘Thoughts on God’

You’ve all heard “when you see the Canadian geese flying south – then you know it’s winter”. I’m just not sure I’ve witnessed this occurrence like I have this last week. I‘ve seen movies about the geese flying south for years. Even saw a documentary on them one year, but have never seen the phenomenon up close and personal.

We were out on Thanksgiving day taking a walk on a nearby famous hiking and biking trail. We heard a loud HONKING noise, looked up and there they were – about 25 of them flying in a V-formation and heading south. We said to each other – “NOW we can know for sure that winter has officially begun”. But today while getting ready for the day – I heard them outside my window and down the street. Noisy little creatures, aren’t they? And I thought to myself, I guess winter hasn’t come? It’s sure COLD enough!

What makes some of them leave and others stay? I was recently reading an article about a town up north where the geese had already migrated and very early – like August 1st kind of early! It is a mystery. Maybe it was lack of food. Maybe it was already too cold. Maybe it was just pure instinct and you and I will never be able to predict it. But the geese know.

God our Heavenly Father and creator of the universe – made those crazy noisy geese. He created them with a built-in instinct for survival. They who have nothing – can take care of their young and themselves. They can fly up to 1,000 km in a single day. They are content and happy wherever they land. And they are resilient leaving early when it still is warm – or leaving when it’s so cold that my fingers and toes get numb when standing outside for too long.

If you are one of those who wonders if you matter, if you’re seen or if your needs will be met – take heart and remember the Canadian geese. They do not store or gather and yet their Heavenly Father takes care of them. How much more important are you than one of them? Don’t you think God is able to supply all your needs? (Taken from Matthew 6 – my own paraphrase)

So when you hear those geese up overhead you can be reassured that their creator is helping them get food and care for their young. It should make you smile at the wonder of it. At the great mystery. All of creation turns and moves in their seasons and rightful order. Birds fly south, trees shed their leaves, water freezes, the ground prepares for the cold chill. And you and I – are here to observe the majesty of the creation – one more time.

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You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears.

James 4:14 God’s Word Translation

Years ago we saw the movie “The Grinch” based on the beloved old story we all grew up reading and watching on TV. This movie brought the animated characters to life. But it was the beginning and ending of that Ron Howard movie that captured my attention. It started off by showing millions of snowflakes falling to the ground, and then the camera zoomed in on just one of the many – closer and closer, until magically a whole city is revealed. This teeny tiny little town on a teeny tiny snowflake, was the land of Who-ville. At the end of the movie, the camera fades back after following the story to completion – showing again the very small town on a tiny little snowflake – one out of millions of snowflakes. Mind blowing. It was hard to wrap my brain around it.

Last week when watching one of our favorites, “The Big Bang Theory” – we saw an episode where Larry is explaining to Penny the holographic images he is working on. He has her put on special glasses then shows her how objects appear to fly. Then he brings a holographic 3 dimensional world spinning around and he says something like this to her, “we may all be just someone’s holographic world on another far away planet – it’s an interesting thought”.

I remember years ago having a discussion with my Dad on the subject of “seeing through a glass dimly” from 1 Corinthians 13 and how what we have always assumed was the “real thing” – may only be an illusion. The real life is something we have not had a glimpse of – yet. We may be the illusion – the holographic image – the existence that seems so grand, large, and profound. But what if the things we thought and truly believed are wrong. Not just wrong – but hugely exaggerated. Our own importance – the things we do, what we think about and spend our energy on – what if we’re misguided and sadly off base?

This last week we mourned the life of 16-year-old Teagan McGinnis who was killed in a car accident. Who can make any sense of this? If you are like me – you have struggled with it, even while realizing that God is still God. Even good people die. Death at any age is no respecter of persons. And yet…if the Bible is really true – then the verse at the top brings great hope. If you are like me, and no doubt the family members of Teagan, hope brings comfort, helps to lessen the sting of loss and even begins to bring clarity to the great mystery of death. Not only death – but what is beyond death.

If our life here is a “mist” here today and gone tomorrow – then we do have that great hope! Our real life begins after we die. The many things we plan for, struggle to buy, takes years to cultivate and think are so important – if they are really just a “breath” of time – just IMAGINE what is in store for us beyond this life. This beautiful life that God made for us – complete with family to love us, friends to sustain us, health and purpose, laughter, tears, joys, music, scenery that takes our breath away, babies, puppies and the many other unexplainable wonderful things that happen every day – and over a lifetime, if God took that much time on this temporary mist of a life – that is here today and gone tomorrow – how much more will He take care of you when life is denied? When we lose something or someone? When we struggle with health, age, troubles, love and finances?

For those of us who understand these things – we understand that for those of us who have a faith in Jesus Christ – there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God – and each other. Even in death.

That is my hope. That is your hope. For every motherless child, for every parent who has lost a child, for all those alone and suffering – it can be your hope too. And someday, like Teagan – we will have the eyes to really see. We will start living our life. After this one is done – and we will mourn no more.

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I had actually planned on posting another song today. Then I was returning emails and checking messages at my computer and this song came on my Spotify music list. It was the song they played at the end of the “House” series. For some reason it really speaks to me. And I can’t get away from it.

Spotify Logo (Photo credit: Dekuwa)

Music sometimes does that to me. I have something else going on and then am stopped dead in my tracks. Maybe it’s because of things going on right now. Maybe it’s because life throws some strange curve balls. Maybe it’s because each new day brings new revelations and surprises. I think I am in control and then find that I have no control. Circumstances come in to literally rock my world as they also sound strangely familiar. A shadow of the past coming and staring straight at me.

In times like this I am humbled and thankful. Humbled because I don’t deserve the grace and forgiveness of a great and wonderful God. Thankful that in spite of the many mistakes and wrong turns I have made in the past I was able to right my path and live in victory. I am surrounded by many loving people to encourage me in my life’s purpose and calling. I am grateful.

But I realize that there are those not fully there yet. They have their own journey to take and discover. Things coming in to rock their world. It is hard to see people take wrong turns and spin out of control. We are all capable of doing this from time to time. Spin, justify, retreat, reason, ponder, turn, let go, go our own way.

This song is a song about a man dying. Written and sung by Warren Zevon, I believe he realized his life as he ponders death. What is really important. The things he really loves. A man who does not want to be forgotten. Wants to know that his life mattered. When it comes right down to it – don’t we all want this? To be remembered, to have mattered. Our actions we took in this life will mean something to us someday as we face our mortality. Those things we thought were so important, worth fighting for, things we gave up, none of it will matter someday. It is a sobering thought. What is so important? Is it really worth the spin? Will people want to remember you when you’re gone?

It is a sobering thought. Someday my actions will be called in to recallby those left behind. I don’t know about you – but I want to be able to say “remember me” and when people do – they will have a good positive memory of my life and what I was called to do.

I wish the same for you.

Enjoy this song and the great lyrics. May you ponder the same thing today and if you need to – make a change.

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I received a delightful lesson yesterday from my puppy. Daisy is a pure bred Bichon Frisé and full of love and playfulness. Yesterday I had a very full day of teaching and Greg was off removing Christmas lights off houses far and wide. Every once in a while before the heavy part of my teaching began I was able to take little breaks from preparing – and go play with Daisy with all her toys. We played tug-a-war for a few minutes, I chased her with the Swiffer (her personal favorite thing to do as she gets all excited and jumps, runs and barks) and squeaked all the squeaky toys making a lot of noise for her. After a time she tired of all these things and found the bully stick in the picture above and proceeded to chew on it – quite forgetting all about me, or so it seemed to me. I waited until she was fully occupied and then tried to sneak out of the room and back into my office. Immediately upon my rising from the recliner in the family room – she was ON ALERT and fully abandoned what she was doing and rose to follow me.

This was such a curious thing to me. Especially as she seemed to be ignoring me. But clearly SHE knew I was still there. And she still needed an audience and full approval from me.

I experimented. I brought her bully stick into my office. I set it on the mat in the picture. Nothing. I sat in my office chair and told her, “get your chew stick”. The result of that conversation is the picture above. “What chew stick?”

It was a great lesson for me. It was me that she wanted all along. And as long as I am with her in the same room paying undivided attention to her – she will play with them. But she will take me over the toys any day. The toys always come in second.

I think that God must feel like that with us. He allows us to be preoccupied and distracted. But at the end of the day – He just wants us. No toys and other time-wasters. Just pure devotional and heart-felt recognition. Peace and comfort from just being together. He wants to be first.

When was the last time that I gave that kind of un-distracted kind of attention to my maker, Saviour, brother and friend? He deserves my full attention and more. Clearly I am too busy if I do not have time each day to bask in His presence.

Help me Lord to stay focused on what is the most important. Giving you first place in my schedule. Every day. With my full attention. Help me to listen and learn. Respond and act clearly. Seeing the most important. Change my heart. Make my heart break with what breaks yours. Keep me in tune. Amen

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I have been enjoying my devotional time with Joyce Meyer Ministries. The other day Joyce was teaching on “Asking God” – as taken from these scriptures:

Matthew 7:7-11 (NKJV)

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Matthew 21:22 (NKJV)

22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

If you are like me you have heard these scriptures many times. I had heard them but must admit that I was not really asking. Somehow it did not seem polite to keep asking for things – like a spoiled child who never thinks about anybody else but themselves. Me, me, ME!!!! Mine, mine, MINE!!! Whah, whah, WHAH!!!! It just felt WRONG.

So my prayer and communication had taken on a different tone over the years. Always respectful and thankful, bringing out confessions, my weaknesses and concerns for others, my family and friends. Walking and talking with God. But I believe I was missing one important aspect to prayer. I wasn’t asking.

Not only does God say to ask – but we are told to do so boldly.

Hebrews 4:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

So the other night in my prayer time – I took a bold step and just asked. And because God already knows what I am thinking about I have to believe that the asking is partly for me. A step of faith. It helps me get things out and really deal with them. Rather than shoving them aside – or pushing them down deep where I don’t have to think about them.

Another thing Joyce said was this: Even if we don’t see the answer to prayer after asking – we need to tell ourselves that God is still working. That clear statement of faith with drive doubt and negativity from our minds and hearts when the waiting for answers seems long and hard. To think that when I boldly ask – and then leave it with Him to work it out in His timing behind the scenes – leaves me feeling peaceful and reassured.

For some circumstances it is easy to believe and have faith in the process of God’s timing. It is maybe even easy to ask. But there are situations where it is very difficult to ask. I have one right now – that has actually made me feel guilty about even asking. But the other night I asked anyway. I gave it away, and though I’m sure it won’t automatically just go away from my mind and heart – I took the steps to begin that great ‘behind the scenes’ work that only God can provide.

Have you an issue right now that you’re afraid to even ask about? You can be reassured that God wants you to ask. He will work out the details. He is trustworthy to bring only good for your life, peace for your soul and health for your mind and body.

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Ver River – Riverside walk Nr Drop Lane Over the years the River Ver has proved itself to be a natural resource in many ways. It has always been used to provide a drinking water supply for human beings but other uses have included defence, a source of power and a focus for recreation and leisure. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The older I get I realize the importance of living “now” and not remembering the “glory days” of youth and of other great moments in my life. It is easy to reflect, look back on the things I liked about my earlier life, when my children were young and still living at home, or my past accomplishments and be stuck in the memory.

The wonderful and terrible thing about life is this: It goes on – It always changes.

We as human beings also need that next “big thing” – something to strain toward – an event to look forward to – a reason to get up in the morning.

But with both the past and the future like clouds we cannot pin down – it is a discipline to learn to live in the now.

Taking a walk today with Greg and our puppy – it was nice to just look at the beauty around me – enjoy the simple things like hearing birds chirping, seeing other people and their dogs, or riding a bike – enjoying health and breath and feeling rich.

Help me Lord to not look too long on the past with a regretful or wishful glance – help me not to put my life on hold for that sweet promise of future – instead, help me to focus on the wonderful things in life – right now, today. Amen